Irish Priest Found Guilty of Sex Abuse Leaves States

By David Richardson
Inside Ireland
April 18, 2012

http://insideireland.ie/2012/04/18/irish-priest-found-guilty-of-sex-abuse-leaves-states-66083/

An Irish priest found guilty of sex abuse in the USA has been removed from ministry.

Fr Michael Kelly, from Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, was scheduled to testify in the sex-abuse lawsuit yesterday – but it is thought he has returned to Ireland in recent days.

On April 6, a civil jury found in favour of the accuser in a case alleging sexual abuse by Fr Kelly in the 1980s.

Kelly, who continues to deny the allegations informed Bishop Blaire in writing on Sunday that he had left the US because of deteriorating health, which he blamed on the "vicious false allegations" against him.

He insisted on his innocence and said he had "lost everything".

He wrote: "I spent 39 years of my life serving God and the people of various parishes of the diocese of Stockton.

"Now, I have not only lost my ministry but the whole thing has taken its toll on my health."